Explore the paintings
Not on display
Jacob van Ruisdael was primarily a landscape painter but he did paint a handful of seascapes. In this painting he has chosen a high viewpoint, with more than half the canvas being devoted to a dramatic cloudscape.
None of Ruisdael's seascapes are dated and they are, therefore, difficult to place in his career. There is a group of seascapes influenced by Jan Porcellis (about 1584 - 632), which are presumably early works. This belongs to the group of more mature seascapes and probably dates from the early 1660s.
None of Ruisdael's seascapes are dated and they are, therefore, difficult to place in his career. There is a group of seascapes influenced by Jan Porcellis (about 1584 - 632), which are presumably early works. This belongs to the group of more mature seascapes and probably dates from the early 1660s.
Items in the shop
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN